The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-19
Sad Fate of a Mormon Girl.
New York SUM-

childless. took Mary Lee. an orphan
to nring up according to the rites OF
the Church of the Latter Day Saints.
As Ann had many children to com.
fort her the babe was placed in charge
of Jane, devout Mormon, herself
born IN the faith. Mary Lees spar
ents were from England. Her mother
was 4 delicate little woman, well re-
memhered by many here rs fearful
unhappy person. Times were hard
with them when they first appeared
here, and they grew harder for some
reason. Just as her husband WAS
about TO take a second wife, evident
| ~ against the wishes OF the conpan-
ion of his youth, he was killed in
snow slide, and three months after
| that his widow died, some said of a
broken heart. leaving little Mary
alone in the world. Samuel Bates
was something of man among the
Mormons. He was called Brother
| 1DdtCSs LIS 1'SJ WHO was bdl'S
coarse woman, but Jane, to whom the
little orphan went, was tender, rather
good looking, and filled with stern
unbending faith in the divinity of
religion and a determination to"Iive"
it to the end. The child which thus
fell to her part0OK of her dead moth
er's disposition, AS she grew TO
w0manhood she became fair to de.
gree not often seen in these parts, but
in spirit she was gloomy, sad and
reticent. Surrounded by M0rmons
and taught by the piOuS Jane, she he
came almost a fanatic on the subject
ofreligiOn herself. and readily accept
ed all that was instiiled into her mind
as the inspiration of The Lord.
Ayear or two ago Mary Lee became
acquainted with young man living
in a mining camp not far from here.
a Gentle, of course, as no Mormon
delves for gold and silver. The youth
Seth Bentley by name, rarely lost an
opportunity to pay the girl little at
tentions. and at length it became the
rumOr that he was her accepted lover.
She would stroll away to the foot
hills to meet him, of evenings they
would he seen by the mountain brook
which winds through the town, and
on Sunday afternoons, particularly
when Brother Bates was away from
home, they would he riding or walk
ing together. Jane made no oppose
ton to the intimacy, hut when Broth
er Bates attention was called to the
matter he felt that it was his duty to
interfere. Little by little James
mind was won over to his way of
thinking, though at first she had been
unsuSpecting, Bentley was forbid.
den the house, and the girl was told
that she must never meet him again.
But they met after this. not as re-
suit of Mary's disobedience, but by
reason of Bentley's persistence. He
found her one day last summer down
Qy the brook, and when she would
have run away from him he caught
her, and, holding her closely, he told
her { his affection for her, and en-.
treated her to become his wife, and
in return received some encourage
ment. From that time on they met
occasionally, unknown to Brother
Bates or to Jane.
In September Brother Bates went
to New Mexico on an exhOrtation
tour, and when he returned in Orto-
Der he brought back with him Nor.
mon Elder named Crafty, who. see
ing Mary Lee, bethOught him that
he would like to take another wife,
his fifth, and heaccordingly preached
the subject to her on the second day
after his arrival. The girl repealed
him with horror, but he pressed his
suit, and at length brought Brother
Bates to his assistance. AT first Jane
opposed the proposition. She was II
sincere Mormon, but her affection for
her foster child got the better of her
faith for a time. and until she could
he place ted Elder Crafty had to hang
his harp on the willow. The means
res3rted to to bring Jane to see the
error of her ways are familiar TO all
who have had intercourse with the
strange people who inhabit these val.
leys. Brother Bates had vision.
Then Elder Crafty had a vision.
Then Bishop who was passing
through Jericho Valley had "A vision.
Then the Sunday school superInpnd.
ent. the Sunday school teachers. and
the local elders and missionaries had
visions. By singular concensus of
opinion all had seen the same thing.
Mary Lee was Gods choice for Elder
Cratty's wife. Still the girl, now
most of the time in tears, like her
unhappy mother, dead sixteen years.